Ohio cyclist raising awareness for fallen firefighters

Bicyclist Jeff Moore is approximately three-quarters of the way through his trek from San Francisco to New York City and the 9/11 Memorial. Moore stopped in Marion to have lunch with the firefighters at the Marion Township Fire Department. He said he figures he has 1,000 miles left in his 4,400-mile ride. He is raising funds for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which supports the families of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.(Photo: Bill Sinden/The Marion Star)Buy Photo

MARION – A young bicyclist left a positive impression with a Caledonia couple they sat next to on a plane earlier this year.

"We didn't say anything for a long time, and I said, 'well, let's find out about this guy beside me,'" said Don King, recalling the day he met Jeff Moore.

King said he and his wife, Claudia, listened as the 23-year-old man told them he was attempting to ride his bike across the country in two months to raise support and awareness for fallen firefighters.

"My goal is to get to the (World) Trade Center site in New York City in time for the anniversary of 9/11," said Moore, as he made a lunch stop in Marion as part of his 4,400-mile journey across the United States.

Moore's trip is aimed at raising funds for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundations, which "supports the families of firefighters that died in the line of duty."

"I was interested in riding across the county, but I was interested in making it bigger than just that," he said. "When I came up with this idea, I came up with two objectives that I wanted to accomplish: I wanted to honor and respect and remember all fallen firefighter members, and I wanted to promote a positive image for the fire service."

Moore began his journey in San Francisco on July 10 and has headed east, traveling about 90 miles a day. He planned his route so he would spend each night at a different fire station.

"My favorite part is staying at fire stations, seeing all the firefighters," he said. "It's pretty cool that, every place I go, everybody is really helpful."

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Bicyclist Jeff Moore is approximately three-quarters of the way through his trek from San Francisco to New York City and the 9/11 Memorial. Moore stopped in Marion to have lunch with the firefighters at the Marion Township Fire Department. He said he figures he has 1,000 miles left in his 4,400-mile ride. He is raising funds for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which supports the families of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.(Photo: Bill Sinden/The Marion Star)

Fire Chief Brian Taylor at the Marion Township Fire Department said he found out about Moore's journey on Facebook before he was hired in Marion.

"It's inspiring," he said. "It's doing a great thing to bring awareness not only to the fire service but to fallen firefighters everywhere. He's staying at fire houses across the country, and it's an example how we reach out to each other.

"It's a brotherhood thing."

Marion is a familiar area for Moore; he was born in Columbus and has family living in Lewis Center and Pataskala.

Moore was served a pasta lunch Thursday at the township fire house as he talked with Taylor, the Kings and other firefighters and paramedics.

"We only met him once, but we think the world of him," King said. He held a postcard he received from Moore letting him know he would be in the area that day.

"He reminds us a lot of our son," Claudia added.

The visit was short as Moore headed south that afternoon to stay with family in central Ohio. He said he had about 1,000 miles left with less than two weeks to go.

Moore recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin and works as a firefighter and paramedic. Like his father, he hopes to make a career out of firefighting.

For information on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, visit www.firehero.org.